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Post #1501821

Author
BedeHistory731
Parent topic
The Star Wars canon saga as only the OT?
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1501821/action/topic#1501821
Date created
27-Aug-2022, 10:21 AM

You know, that interpretation is entirely legitimate and can work in a story. Like, look at the ending of Better Call Saul, when Jimmy finally confesses to all of his awfulness in court. He gets to spend the rest of his days in prison, but he’s free from his life of lies and Kim is open to him again. The whole arc of Jimmy living as Gene is a good example of making a character suffer before they truly gain a shot at redemption. I don’t really think it’s communicated that well in the OT.

I just don’t find that it works in ROTJ and especially not in the context of the PT. Luke may forgive him, but can the people watching even think about forgiving him? This is guy who led a school shooting, FFS. Nobody is thinking about how one can find the good in Dylan, Erik, or the author of Richard McBeef. That’s a big root of my problem and why I always support fanedits that cut that one scene out. I despise that Kenobi made it Reva’s origin.

Also, Vader can start his redemption arc earlier. Why doesn’t he try to disassemble the empire from within, anonymously send secrets to the alliance (without them knowing it’s him - maybe Piett is a red herring)? It could be narratively satisfying when Luke learns that Vader is the one that gave up imperial secrets, but saddened to learn that Vader did so for dark side reasons.

Vader the secret informant could have dramatic stakes too, as Palpatine could have fed him false information for Endor and Luke could question Vader’s intentions again. It’s through the duel that Luke tries to pull out that call to the light (as he does in the movie), but it becomes more pained for Vader. It’d contextualize Vader killing Palpatine as the culmination of a much longer path in Vader’s life, the final step needed to complete that redemption. Instead of what we got, where it comes off more “rushed.”

Again, my feelings could change on this. They have before and they’ll probably do so again. IDK, I feel like the PT makes me want to see Luke leave Vader to die alone in the throne room and that this franchise has been a deeply mediocre one since 1983. If Vader’s redemption works for you, that’s totally fine. It just doesn’t work for me.